Device for operating car couplers



- 1,631,294 June 7, 1927' A, E. SMALL DEVICE FOR OPERATING CAR COUPLERS Original Filed Oct, 8. 1924 fizbanzorr ArthurE 511ml] fltzo rne y Patented June 7, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR E. SMALL, OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO UNION METAL PRODUCTS COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

DEVICE FOR OPERATING CAR COUPLERS.

Original application filed October 8, 1924, Serial No. 742,395. Divided and this Serial No. 14,280.

This particular invention relatesto what is generally known in the art as a rotating type of uncoupling device for car couplers and comprises an operating rod revolubly mounted on the car with brackets or in any other convenient manner, which rod is usually bent downwardly at the outer end to form a handle, and is bent outwardly at its inner end to form a crank projecting over the coupler lock lifter. The standard vertical plane coupler has a knuckle pivoted to the coupler head and provided with a tail behind which the lock is placed. The lock lifter protrudes through and above the coupler head and is provided with a horizontally positioned eye. This lock'lifter eye is 1 in diameter and its axis is perpendicular to the longitudinal center of the car. This size and position has been determined by the American Railroad Association and is standard for the majority of couplers now in service.

My invention resides in the connection between the crank of the operating rod and the eye on the coupler lock lifter. When the handle is raised the rod is revolved and the crank is thereby raised which unlocks the coupler by raising the lock lifter.

The coupler moves backwardly and forwardly longitudinally of the car in bufling and draft and also moves sidewise in round ing" curves, etc., and the connection'between the coupler and the operating rod must permit such movements without the component parts becoming disengaged from each other or from either the coupler or the operating rod. It is frequently necessary to uncouple cars when they are coupled together and in contact so that it is impossible to throw the knuckle of-either coupler. To meet this condition couplers are designed to assume a lock set-position wherein the lock lifter can be raised from behind the tail of the knuckle and retained in such a position by means within the head of the coupler independent of the operating rod. This allows the operating rod to fall'close to the lock lifter. To accommodate such a movement the connection between the operating rod= crank and the coupler must fore-shorten or have a sliding engagement with either the operating rod or the coupler.

application filed March Another object is to provide a connection which may be hooked into the eye of the coupler lock lifter with the hooked member connected to the crank of the operating rod by another member which permitsit .to adapt itself to the various service movements of the coupler but prevents it from brackets 3 and has a handle 4 at its outer end and a crank arm 5 extending over the coupler. The lock lifter 7 of the cou aler 8 has a horizontally disposed eye 9. y invention resides in a connector for the crank arm to the lock lifter.

The connector comprises a hook member which is inserted through the eye of the lock lifter and a bar memberis t'hen threaded into it so as to close the open portion of the hook.

The bar is prevented from rotating by means independent of the operating rod. The bar 30 is, of course, round where itis threaded into the hook 31 but the shoulder 32 is preferably square (or at least has one flat surface). The hook is provided with a locking lip 33, which is normally as shown in dotted lines in Fig. v4, but is moved to the position shown in full lines after the device is assembled, so as to prevent rotation of the bar whereby the bar 30 and the hook 31 are retained in proper relative posimay be made square throughout its entire length.

This is a division of my eo-pending application, Serial No. 742,395, filed October 8, 1924.

I claim:

1. A connector for a railway car coupler look litter and its operating rod comprising an open hook member, a bar passing through a portion of said member and having a threaded engagement therewith so as to be rotatable t'herethrough to open or close said hook and means integral with the hook to preventthe rotation of the bar when desired.

2. In a release rigging for car couplers, the combination of an operating rod, a coupler lock litter having an eye, an open hook member engaging said eye, a bar passing through a portion of said member and having a threaded engagement therewith so as to be rotatable therethrough to open or close said hook, and means integral with the hook to prevent the rotation of the bar when desired, said bar rotatably connected to the operating rod.

3. In a device for operating a car coupler lock, the combination of a coupler lock lifter having an eye, a hook member engaging said eye, a bar passing through aportion of said member and having a threaded engagement therewith so as to be rotatable therethrough to open or close said hook, and means integral with the hook to prevent the rotation of the bar when desired.

I 4. In a device for operating a car coupler lock, the combination of a coupler lockliiter having an eye, a hook member engaging said e e a bar aassin throu h a jortion of said 7 a: a l 7 member and having a threaded engagement therewith so as to be rotatable therethrough to open or close said hook and provided with a shoulder to restrict such movement, and means integral with the hook to prevent the rotation of the bar when desired.

ARTHUR E. SMALL. 

